“I hear there was some trouble at school today. Would you like to tell me what happened?” William asked as Troy took a seat. His face showed no emotions, but the boys could tell how he forced himself to speak in a calm to that he wasn't pleased. The big man shut off the TV, forcing Vance to pay attention to him. He stood in front of them, arms crossed and looking none to happy.

William looked at Vance. “I thought they were your friends.”

November 24 1982
Northern California

When the boys first got home, Maggie went over to her mother-in-laws to explain what had happened and that the boys were home early, then she went back to work or so the boys had thought. Vance had stepped out of the house to walk around the property and think. Troy just went to his room and lay on the bed, waiting for the punishment that he knew was coming.

At just around three, Troy got up to make dinner. He went with Lasagna, his fathers favorite in the vain attempt that his father would go easy on them. When that was finished, he went back to his room to sit and think some more. He knew he was in the right, at least on telling about Bruce and Frankie stealing. He didn't feel like he was in the right, but what could he do.

He began to think how Tracy would have handled the situation and he came up with the same response. Stealing was wrong. He knew that, hell, children over six years old knew that. Now he had not only his father, but Bruce and Frankie to worry about. It was a little bit after five when his brother came into the house and Troy got out of bed to check on dinner. Then the two siblings went to the living room to watch some TV, hoping for something good till their parent's came home. A part of Troy was hoping his grandmother would show up, but she hadn't.

At half past five, they heard two cars pull up in the drive and Troy began to shake. This had been his first time that he ever got in trouble at school. He knew his father would be furious. He could barely hear talking through the windows, then he watched as his mother led their father away to talk.

It was when Troy got up to put the garlic bread in the over that his parents came back in. His mother stepped into the kitchen and gestured to him with a finger, so he set a timer, dropped his head down and walked slowly into the living room.

“I hear there was some trouble at school today. Would you like to tell me what happened?” William asked as Troy took a seat. The big man shut off the TV, forcing Vance to pay attention to him. He stood in front of them, arms crossed and looking none to happy.

Troy looked up at his dad, trying to not think about the trouble he was in. “We got in a fight today.”

“With each other?” He began tapping one foot, looking from one boy, then to the next and back again.

“No. We fought with Bruce and Frankie.” Troy replied.

William looked at Vance. “I thought they were your friends.”

“They were, till Grandma made me wear that dress and they came over and saw me in it.” Vance stated. “Now they tease me about it all the time.”

“And that's why you fought?” He asked.

Troy shook his head. “No. Bruce and Frankie chased me because I saw them stealing stuff in an open class room.”

“I think I see. So they chased you. You found Vance, then the two of you kicked their collective butts?” William arched an eyebrow.

“No, I ran into Vance, I was trying to get to my classroom.” Troy replied.

“But you found Vance and beat them up?” William waited patiently. He began drumming his fingers to one arm on a bicep. Both boys had seen this before, usually before they ended up with a spanking and no dinner.

“No, he ran into me, knocked us both to the ground. By time I got up, Bruce was there. Heck, Bruce hit me, I didn't even have a chance to swing back. Troy didn't even hit Frankie, he just moved out of the way.” Vance supplied. “But I wasn't going to let them beat Troy up.”

“Okay.” Their father nodded. He was silent for a few moments, then he walked out of the house, gesturing to Maggie to follow him. They were gone for a few minutes. Troy couldn't pick up on any whispers.

When William returned he went to the kitchen and got a glass of tea, letting the boys wait so they got more nervous. “Your mother confirms the story, at least according to Mr. Harper. I believe you.” He said, giving them a small smile. Then he placed a hand on Troy's shoulder. “It's hard to tell someone, even a principal, something like that but you did good Troy.” His youngest began to blush.

“Thank you Dad.” Troy said.

“A lot of the kids at the school won't think it's good and you may have cost yourself some friends, but if they can't stick with you for doing what's right, then you don't need them as friends. “

He let go of Troy, then rested the same hand on his other son's shoulder. “And Vance. You've been bad at beating Troy up yourself. I know I've ignored a lot of that myself, but your mother's been helping me with that.” William gave them, a sad smile and a shake of his head. “I really have dropped the ball with you two at times.”

Neither boy answered and Maggie spoke up. “We've been so busy trying to make sure we have money to live that you've both done a lot of growing up on your own.”

William nodded. “And we're a long time in saying this. We're both proud of you. Vance, you placed yourself between him and your friends. It takes a big person to forgo his friends in order to protect someone else. No doubt that they'll hate you now.”

“I know dad.” Vance replied. “I think they already do.”

Their father took a deep breath. He looked at Maggie and shrugged, she returned the gesture and then he looked back at his sons. “I can't see a reason to punish you two. You both did what's right. You defended family and you let someone know that they were stealing. You've been suspended from school for three days for doing whats right. I think that's a stupid rule, but I can see a reason behind it. So I wont make it worse.” William watched as both boys visibly relaxed. “I'm not saying this will work each time you're fighting at school. But this time I won't punish you.”

His sons looked at him in shock, it had been the one outcome they never expected to hear. “Thank you Dad.” The boys replied in unison.

“Just don't make a habit of this.” He stood up. A bell rang in the kitchen and Troy looked up, then raced off to pull dinner out of the over. When he returned, he took his seat on the couch again.

William looked at both of them. “We'll eat in a moment. But for now don't think you'll just lay around the house till next Thursday. We still expect you to do your normal chores. And now you two have a reason to work on that bedroom of yours. Plus I think your grandparents may need a little help next door with Thanksgiving.”

“But we helped this past weekend.” Vance stated. “We vacuumed and everything.”

“Well, we need something to keep you two out of trouble.” William replied.

“Actually dear, I had a thought about that.” Maggie said from the door. “I know you got some double shifts coming up this weekend. I have that appointment on Monday with that neurology Specialist in San Francisco. Maybe I could take them with me.” She suggested with a smile.

“Okay, that could work. You both want to go?” William asked his boys.

“Yeah!” Troy nodded and bounced on his bed. He was just happy at the thought of being with his mother for a day.

“I guess. Where all are you going?” Vance asked his mother.

“Well I got an eight AM appointment and I don't want to be up at four to make it in time. So I'll leave on Sunday and stay at your Aunt Shelly's.”

“Aunt Shelly and Uncle Frank?” He asked. “Yeah, I'll go.”

Troy smiled. He liked Aunt Shelly and Uncle Frank, although they weren't really related. Aunt Shelly had gone through high school with his mother. They had know each other for longer then she had been married. A stay at their house meant junk food, as Uncle Frank had a weakness for it. It did come with the down side that Aunt Shelly liked to keep her house very tidy. There was no running around inside, no eating away from the table. But it still didn't matter. They were good people. And they had an Atari and a computer with games.

Then he had a thought. One reason he rarely left his Grandmothers backyard was because he'd be seen. No one knew him there, except his Aunt and Uncle. But for the drive down, they'd be passing strangers. So he had the chance that he could go as Tracy and change in...of all places....The town Tracy. It was near Livermore, where his Aunt and Uncle lived. He could leave the house as Tracy, Change in the town Tracy. Then while in San Francisco, he could be Tracy again. No one would know him, no one would bug him. Of course he'd be stuck in Troy mode while at his Aunt and Uncle's place.

“Tell you what.” William smiled at them. “You two made me proud today by sticking up for each other and doing the right thing. I know I've not been that good of a father, but I want to make it up to you.” He looked to his wife. “See if Shelly would let you come up Friday night. Spend the weekend and hit the malls or something. Go and have fun. Head back after your appointment on Monday.”

She nodded and turned to head into the kitchen. “She said yes when I called her after talking to you at work.”

The boys sat there, trying to figure out what happened. “Wait.” Vance said. “You mean...You mean you already talked about this?” He asked.

“Yep.” William replied with a smile. “She stopped by work after dropping you two off here.”

“I...We...” Vance looked at his brother. “We thought you were mad at us.”

“At first I was.” William said as he gestured for his boys to head for the kitchen. “Then she explained what happened. I was mad at the school and I called the Principal, but he said the matter was in the school boards hands and with the holiday they wouldn't be there till at least Monday and we wouldn't be seen till Tuesday. Kind of pointless to fight it then.”

Vance started to set the table and Troy began pouring cups of tea. “So you weren't mad at us. At all?” Vance asked.

“No. If I was, you wouldn't be going to the Bay Area.” William replied as he took his seat. “But like I said, don't make this a habit. Tomorrow I still expect you two to do the dishes after Thanksgiving diner and make sure what ever chores you have with your grandparents are either done before you leave, or get done on your return.”

“Yes Dad.” Both boys replied again.

“And after dinner and dishes tonight I'd like to get some fire wood inside, before it gets too cold at night.” William said. “So could you help Vance with the dishes Troy?”

That was the one down side to their house, in Troy's eyes. There was no air conditioning or heat. They had a large evaporative cooler in the window. And in the winter they relied on an old wood burning stove. With winter getting close they were stock piling wood in a shed outside and moving a lot inside to be ready.

“Okay Dad.” The little boy replied.

Maggie put the lasagna on the table and the boys took their seats against the wall. “Well then Boys...” William stated. “Let's eat.”